The article delves into a significant military coup planning document that has recently been declassified among over 150 documents related to the events of February 23, 1981 (23-F) in Spain. This document, notable for both its content and the striking diagram accompanying it, provides a comprehensive overview of ongoing military operations three months prior to the coup attempt. It features a handwritten summary by an anonymous author who outlines the military operations planned for a coup against the Spanish government in the early 1980s.

Published by El País, the analysis highlights that this particular document originates from the Guardia Civil and is labeled as 'Documentation with Presumed Coup Planning, Handwritten (1980)'. It is hypothesized that it is linked to materials previously attributed to the Centro Superior de Información de la Defensa (CESID), the then-Spanish secret service. The article emphasizes the relevance of this document in understanding the political landscape and military strategies at the time, as well as its implications on contemporary views of Spain’s democratic transition.

The article is contextualized within the broader narrative of Spain’s history regarding coups and military influence in governance, particularly during a tumultuous period post-Franco dictatorship. Annotations by El País further enrich the visual representation and allow readers to grasp the complexity of coup strategies that were formulated in the shadow of Spain's transition to democracy. This detailed analysis acts not only as a historical record but also as a commentary on the enduring ramifications of such military planning on Spain's political discourse today.